Algeria begins 710-well irrigation programme for major Sahara agricultural development

A large groundwater drilling programme is under way in southern Algeria, where hundreds of deep irrigation wells are being developed to support a major agricultural and livestock project in the Sahara.

The development in Adrar covers around 219,000 ha, including approximately 70,000 ha of cropland intended to produce animal feed. During the first phase alone, 710 irrigation wells are planned within two years, creating the groundwater supply needed to support large-scale farming in one of the country's driest regions.

The wells are being drilled to target depths of approximately 250 m to 350 m within a hyper-arid sedimentary basin. Ground conditions are dominated by permeable sandstone, sand and gravel, interspersed with less permeable clay-rich layers. These alternating strata influence both drilling performance and groundwater movement, making the selection of drilling method an important part of the programme.

Direct circulation will be the principal technique, although flooded reverse circulation and down-the-hole hammer drilling will also be used depending on local ground conditions. The combination allows crews to adapt as boreholes pass through changing sedimentary layers and harder formations.

Ten mobile multipurpose drilling rigs form part of the overall drilling fleet, alongside equipment operated by other contractors. The scale of the programme means that productivity depends not only on penetration rates but also on maintaining drilling fluid systems, tooling, spare parts and continuous operational support across multiple well sites.

Conditions above ground are equally demanding. Summer temperatures in Adrar can exceed 49 degrees C, while large daily temperature variations, blowing sand and persistent dust place additional stress on machinery, hydraulic systems and site personnel. These factors become particularly important when rigs are expected to operate continuously across a tightly scheduled programme.

The groundwater resource is fundamental to the wider development. In an environment where rainfall is extremely limited, the feasibility of large-scale agriculture depends on reliable access to deep aquifers and on the long-term ability of those aquifers to support the planned abstraction rates.

The project is ultimately intended to support an integrated dairy and livestock complex and reduce Algeria's dependence on imported milk and agricultural products. That objective places groundwater development at the centre of the entire scheme rather than treating the wells as a secondary construction activity.

With 710 wells planned in the first phase, the drilling programme is substantial even by regional standards. Its success will depend not only on completing boreholes to the required depths, but also on accurately characterising the aquifer, maintaining well performance and ensuring that extraction remains compatible with the long-term groundwater resource.